The third of three clay-court Masters 1000 occasions on the highway to Roland Garros is underway. Taking middle stage this fortnight is the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome, the place Jannik Sinner is seeking to full the profession Masters slam — successful all 9 Masters 1000s. The world No. 1 has triumphed at 5 Masters tournaments in a row after lifting the Madrid trophy for the primary time final weekend. That leaves Rome as the one lacking piece to the puzzle.
Here’s a breakdown of the draw and my picks for the Rome Masters
Internazionali BNL d’Italia
The place: Rome, Italy   Prize cash: 8,235,540 Euros   High seed: Jannik Sinner 2025 champion: Carlos Alcaraz (not enjoying)
Carlos Alcaraz is sidelined by a wrist damage, so Sinner is a HUGE favourite in Rome. Potential challengers embody Novak Djokovic, Madrid runner-up Alexander Zverev, fellow Italians Lorenzo Musetti and Flavio Cobolli, and rising star Rafael Jodar.
It’s a favorable draw for Djokovic, who’s making his 2026 clay-court debut and has not performed since Indian Wells. The 38-year-old Serb on the alternative half from Sinner, plus he additionally has a seemingly routine path at the very least via the fourth spherical. Djokovic, even when he’s a bit rusty, ought to coast into the quarters earlier than doubtlessly assembly both Musetti, Jiri Lehecka, or Casper Ruud.
Elsewhere within the backside half, Zverev and Jodar are on a collision course for the final eight. Jodar, who’s coming off a quarterfinal efficiency on the Caja Magica, will attempt to safe a seed at Roland Garros by faring effectively on the Foro Italico. The 19-year-old Spaniard might meet Alex de Minaur in spherical three after he destroyed the Aussie 6-3, 6-1 in Madrid.
The Rome draw is rather more tough on the prime for guys like Arthur Fils and Ben Shelton. Fils might run into Sinner as early as spherical 4, whereas Shelton is a doable quarterfinal foe for the to-seeded Italian. The information is even worse for Jakub Mensik, who has the misfortune of being the primary seeded opponent whom Sinner might face.
The highest half can be dwelling to Cobolli, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Daniil Medvedev, and Joao Fonseca. Auger-Aliassime vs. Fonseca is a doable third-round showdown, whereas Medvedev may have a troublesome opening match on his fingers towards both Tomas Machac or Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Quarterfinal picks: Jannik Sinner over Andrey Rublev, Flavio Cobolli over Joao Fonseca, Lorenzo Musetti over Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Jodar over Alexander Blockx
Semifinal picks: Sinner over Cobolli and Musetti over Jodar
Closing choose: Sinner over Musetti
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and likewise maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You possibly can observe him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
